After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to proceed with the 2026 English Interclub Surfing Championships due to the lack of sponsorship support required to deliver the event.
We know this news will be disappointing for the many clubs, teams, and surfers who look forward to the Interclubs each year. This is especially poignant given that 2026 would have marked the 40th year of the this iconic event. For four decades, the English Interclub Surfing Championships have been one of the highlights of the domestic surfing calendar, bringing together clubs and surfing communities from across the country to celebrate grassroots competitive surfing.
Why the Event Has Been Cancelled
The decision has not been taken lightly. Since the end of 2025, Surfing England has been actively seeking sponsorship support for the 2026 event. Unfortunately, despite positive conversations, we have been unable to secure the level of sponsorship required to make the Championships financially viable this year.
The English Interclub Surfing Championships is a complex event to deliver, with costs typically ranging between £10,000 and £15,000, in addition to the significant staff and operational resources required. While we explored options to reduce costs, including a return to a volunteer-led delivery model, we do not believe this would provide the standard of event delivery that clubs and competitors deserve. In recent years, Surfing England has worked hard to ensure that the people who deliver our events are fairly compensated, and we remain committed to maintaining that approach.
Looking Ahead to 2027
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Newquay Boardriders, who were due to host the 2026 Championships, for their understanding and support throughout this process. While naturally disappointed not to be welcoming clubs to Newquay this year, we are already looking ahead and are excited by the prospect of working together to deliver a bigger and better English Interclub Surfing Championships in 2027.
Looking ahead, we remain optimistic. We have a number of positive sponsorship conversations ongoing, and while the current economic climate means that these partnerships are taking longer to secure, we are confident that the work being undertaken now will place us in a strong position for the return of the event in 2027.
Impact on our Event Calendar – the Junior Surf Series
With the Interclubs no longer taking place in 2026, Surfing England will utilise the previously allocated event weekend of 20th-21st September as a contingency date for the Junior Surf Series (JSS), should any events require rescheduling due to conditions. This additional flexibility will help maximise competition opportunities for junior surfers and support qualification pathways to the English National Surfing Championships.
Opportunities for Clubs
In addition, with the Interclubs reserve weekend of 3rd-4th October now available, we would encourage clubs to consider organising their own events, whether for their members or for the wider club network. Surfing England will be happy to provide support and guidance to any clubs looking to develop competition opportunities, particularly those with less experience in event delivery. We understand that Newquay Boardriders are exploring options for an event during this period, and we look forward to seeing how these opportunities develop.
Thank You
We would like to thank our clubs, volunteers, athletes and wider surfing community for their continued support and understanding. We remain fully committed to the future of the English Interclub Surfing Championships and look forward to its return in 2027.
Important Notice – Event Delivery
This championship, as with all our events, is entirely sponsorship dependent. Without confirmed partners, the event will not run. We are actively seeking sponsors to ensure this highly anticipated community surf club event, the English Interclub Surfing Championships, goes ahead.
Interested in sponsoring or supporting this or any of our events? Get in touch now to Ben Powis at ben@surfingengland.org
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